New York Permit Test: Free Practice & 2026 Requirements
New York's 20-question test requires 14 correct including at least 2 of 4 sign questions — signs can fail you alone.
Practice here includes questions written specifically for New York law — rules that appear on the NY exam and nowhere else.
Questions
20
on the official exam
To pass
70%
miss up to ~6
Permit age
16
via New York DMV
What's on the New York knowledge test
The exam draws from the official New York driver handbook. These are the core topics — The Permit Test covers every one with original practice questions and explanations:
- Road Signs & MarkingsShapes, colors, and meanings of regulatory, warning, guide, and work-zone signs plus pavement markings.
- Traffic Signals & LightsSteady and flashing lights, arrows, lane-control signals, and what to do when signals fail.
- Right-of-Way RulesIntersections, four-way stops, roundabouts, emergency vehicles, and yielding rules.
- Speed Limits & Following DistanceBasic speed law, posted limits, safe following distance, and adjusting speed to conditions.
- Parking & StoppingCurb colors, hill parking, prohibited zones, and distances from hydrants, crosswalks, and tracks.
- Alcohol, Drugs & the LawBAC limits, implied consent, zero-tolerance laws, and how impairment affects driving.
- Safe Driving TechniquesDefensive driving, skid recovery, night and bad-weather driving, and emergency handling.
- Sharing the RoadPedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, large trucks, school buses, and emergency vehicles.
How to pass on your first try
- Set your state to New York. Your exam simulations switch to 20 questions with a 70% passing bar — the real format.
- Practice with explanations on. In practice mode, every answer teaches you the rule, the trap, and a memory trick.
- Let the misses come back as flashcards. Spaced repetition resurfaces what you missed right before you'd forget it.
- Pass two exam simulations in a row. When your dashboard's pass probability is 85%+, you're ready to book the real test.
Official sources
The Permit Test is a study aid, not a government service. Exam details (question count, passing score, permit age) change occasionally — always confirm with the New York DMV and the official New York driver handbook before your appointment.